LEGAL BID TO CLEAN UP SITE
MORE travellers have arrived at a site in Newport the Welsh Government is trying to regain control of.
Families living in caravans in Tatton Road were given “tolerated status” on the land and for years it was kept in good condition.
But since new people arrived this year havoc has been wrought. Vehicles and caravans have been wrecked and fly-tipping is rife.
One resident, who asked not to be named, noticed more people had arrived when he was walking nearby.
He used a drone to take pictures from the air. “They are just dumping their s*** there,” he said. “They think they have a God-given right to do what they want,” he said.
Pictures taken at the start of the month showed six caravans, two vans, a truck-type vehicle and a car at the bottom of the site, making a total of 10 vehicles.
There were other vehicles and trailers there but they appeared to have been abandoned. But in new images that have emerged in recent days there are eight caravans, five vans, two cars and a pair of trucktype motors – a total of 17.
Newport councillor Alan Morris said: “This is a problem caused by the Welsh Government who put them there and now they have to deal with the consequences.
“Unfortunately many people feel that the council are responsible and we most certainly are not.”
He wanted the matter “sorted as soon as possible” because of “nu- merous complaints” he had received.
“It’s a source of irritation to local people but we have to accept that travellers have rights too and that they are not all bad,” Coun Morris said.
“As with all things it is a few people that give the others a bad name.”
A Welsh Government insider said attempts to have the travellers removed from the land – which it owns – were taking longer than hoped.
“It was back in court last week but the legal process is ongoing,” they said. “There will not be possession of the site for a few months yet. We were getting somewhere and then they put in a request for a potential review.”
A Welsh Government spokesman said: “In 2012 a family of travellers moved to the Tatton Road site and were given tolerated status.
“Our understanding is that another family has subsequently moved onto the site and the original family have now left.
“The state of the site has deteriorated significantly in recent months.
“We are currently taking legal steps to seek to gain full possession of the site so we can begin a clean-up process as soon as possible.”